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Sunday, February 27, 2011

I Met Bobby Long... I'm Dead and Done.

Several months ago, I heard that Bobby Long was going to be playing a small venue here in Portland and even though I had never heard Bobby sing, at least on purpose, I got this sudden urge to see him. So I texted Double_Dippin and, of course, she was in. I bought the special "VIP" tickets, which are an extra $10 but so fucking worth not having to stand through the whole show. I'm old. I can't stand for three hours.

Since I had no idea what kind of music this dude even played, I immediately downloaded his one record to iTunes and had myself a listen or twelve. I liked it ok. I didn't love it. There were a few songs that I really liked a lot, but overall I wasn't sold.

Fast forward to Friday, February 25th... the day of the show. I wake up to a weather report spewing threats of death on the roadways because there's a storm a coming and it's gonna get messy. Fuck you Mother Nature. Fuck you and that diseased horse you rode in on. I'm fucking done with the snow. I was terrified the concert would get canceled. I had worked hard to get us some "special treatment" and damned if I was going to let that slip through the cracks.

Thankfully, Bobby's bus driver wasn't a pussy and didn't let a little snow keep the show from happening...but it did keep quite a few of the fans from making it. Bummer.

So Bobby went on a little after 9pm and played a good hour and a half, which I thought was pretty good for a guy who's only recorded one album. And let me tell you, I was impressed. I was seriously fucking impressed. You know how sometimes you see a concert and the band is horrible? Like the singer's voice needs serious audio mixing equipment to make them sound good so when they play live, it just sucks? Well that is not Bobby. His live show makes his recorded stuff sound like it was done in a basement on a cassette tape in a boombox.

We were really close to the stage. Love the intimacy of a small venue.

I'm not a great music reviewer like Jenny Jerkface so don't expect any complex musicy-type observations...but wow, just wow! Bobby mainly plays an acoustic guitar but when he mixed it up with the electric, I tingled down to my toes. The addition of a backing band made the show feel more rock-ish and less folksy. Guess I just like it a little harder. [TWSS!!] I almost didn't recognize a few of the songs.

While he seemed a bit uncomfortable on stage, hiding behind a full beard and a curtain of hair that hung in front of his face throughout the whole show, he managed to keep the 60 or so fans engaged with amusing stories of being on tour, his "fucking freezing" bus, the snowstorm woes, and eating lobster rolls at a local seafood restaurant. He wore black jeans and a t-shirt layered under a plaid shirt, layered under a cardigan sweater (grampy? is that you?), and some serious pointy-toe shoes that gave me high school flashbacks. (Think 1986 people.)

He closed with my favorite song of his: Dead and Done. Which was like a gazillion times better live.

What? You thought I was going to forget to tell you about my "special treatment?" A few weeks before the concert, I started working my radio station connections to see if anyone could get me a "meet and greet" with Bobby. I was surprised when one station got back to me and said "no problem!" HOLY SHIT! We were gonna get to meet him!

I had no idea what a "meet and greet" entailed. I had never done anything like this. But just in case we spent any amount of time with him, I frantically emailed the gang asking for smart music questions I could ask so I didn't sound like a complete redneck douchebag. I also figured it was probably a good idea not to ask him any questions about RPattz...although I did dare Double_Dippin to pick pocket his phone so we could steal Rob's number. She chickened out. Pffft.

So before the show started, I met with his tour manager, who was a super nice dude. He tells me that after the show, Bobby usually comes down to the merchandise table to sign the stuff people buy. And after he was finished, we would be taken up to Bobby's dressing room for a more "intimate meet and greet" - wha...wha.. WHAT? There surely must be some other fans getting the same treatment, right? Um... nope. Just us.

This would have been nice to run into backstage... really, really nice. Three-way anyone?

Once the autograph signing finished, we were escorted up to the dressing room and got to spend about 20 minutes with Bobby (his tour manager chaperoned) hanging out chatting. He was very chatty which was surprising because he seemed very shy and quiet on stage. I managed to ask him a few of my questions - but for the most part I was so enthralled with both his accent (unf...the accent!) and how incredibly polite he was that I totally don't remember his answers. I would be a horrible interviewer.

I forget, because he's so popular within the Twidom, that he's really a very new artist and he's thrilled if he gets 200-250 people at a show. I told him I was sorry Mother Nature screwed him with the snowstorm, but he really appeared all right with the small crowd. I'm pretty sure, had the tour manager not stepped in, Bobby would have chatted with us much longer. I was on my best behavior (yes, I do have one of those) having set the meeting up through work, so I'm sorry there were no shenanigans to report. Even though Donnersun had asked me to get a picture of his ass and lick his face for her... I failed at both requests. Sorry dude. He's really got no ass anyway...

Before we left, he agreed to take a few photos...

Ugh, so many things wrong with this photo... why didn't someone tell me I was sporting a double chin, greasy bangs and a shiny forehead? I look scared. And Bobby looks scared... I wonder if someone told him about my freezer?

Me and Double_Dippin snuggling with Bobby...look at him muckling on to us. He obviously doesn't want us to go. Why didn't I think to slip in an ass grab while my hand was back there? Although DD tried to get him to take a few naughty spanky-type photos. That's when we were escorted off the premises.

If you have the chance to see Bobby at some point, do it. It probably won't cost you a lot and it's totally worth it. And word on the street is he usually signs merchandise after his shows so get yer asses to that table for a little face time. Now what does this little rendezvous bring my degrees of separation down to? One? Mutherfucka, I hung with someone who hangs with the Preh-tay! Squeeeee!

so cool! i saw him on the 24th of feb. in vermont . i was so thrilled he came here . i love his music , and may have a small crush , but dont tell my husband who came to the show with me , although he may have noticed my drooling at the stage heeheehee

I have heard many artists that are much better live than on CD. I heard Bobby on Leno when he was on and I was impressed - even hubby liked him. I actually keep forgetting to check out the CD - maybe I will remember now though :)

@Jaymes: "Just think...those hands that were on your arm might have been on Rob at one point." - Don't think for one second this was lost on me. I almost wanted to lick one.

@Stan: We are both pretty mini. I'd say Bobby was 6 feet or so. Not freakishly tall by any means.

@Twi_loveSue: No note slipping... major fail. But his tour manager was keeping a pretty good eye on us. Even though I didn't get too tongue tied with Bobby, I know I'd be a blathering idiot in front of Rob. Not sure I'm quite ready for him. Ok, I am ready for him, but just not conversationally!

I wasn't a stumbling drunk, but I had a pretty good buzz on.. I was a smiling fool. I did remember getting pics and asking if we could take some fun photos, but the manager dude was like "no we gotta go". I think I just stared while LKW asked questions,I recall speaking, but I don't know what the fuck I was saying..(babble babble) although there was eye contact during bable that much I do remember.Then, I was thinking to myself *shut up! LKW has questions* And I'm totes bummed I didn't get him to sign my boob...er shirt. *palms head* his music is amazing I like that kinda music anyway. LKW suggested we steal his phone, but I didn't see it anywhere.. And I'm pretty sure MY hand WAS on his "non" ass.(dudes got no butt) in the photo...that's why I have a shit eatin grin on my face.. Thanks again LKW cant wait for Iron and Wine...Or better yet the premiere.

Now I'm really upset I didn't get to his show in Chicago on the 18th! I didn't find out about it until the day of and couldn't get anyone to go with me... bc my friends are douches!! And I was not about to go into the city at night alone, although I should have just packed some pepper spray and gone anyway.

You breathed in the same air as the person that breathed in Rob air... mmmm Rob air.

How fun! You are braver than I am. It reminds me of the time I went to see The Script at an intimate venue in Detroit. I gotthisclose to Danny O'Donoghue but Wussed out from saying anything to him. I didn't know if he'd appreciate the fangirl attentions of a woman in her late 40's, not exactly the demographic they are looking for, right? I think it's hilarious that you can't remember his answers to your questions...your mind was obviously engaged in other, um uh situations.

I was lucky enough to see Bobby in Lawerence, KS a couple of weeks ago. I went with a bunch of sl00rs. It was awesome. Bobby was the first brit packer I had seen and he impressed the hell outta me. He is so much better live than on the album. If you have the chance, go see him. I promise you will fall in love.

I'm not even sure Rob knows where Maine is but let's just say if I had walked into that dressing room and he was sitting on the couch, I would've broken the land speed record for getting naked and mounting him. That, most certainly, would've gotten me tossed out of the joint. But totally worth it.

I'm so jealous! I don't think he will ever come to Alaska. I didn't think I would like his music cuz I didn't like the demos, but I love this album. I have listened to it a gazillion times. Sounds to me like Neil Young in the After the Gold Rush era. Damn. I want to hear those guitars on "A Winter Tale" fucking loud!

I've seen Bobby twice now; the first time was in early September a couple of years ago (on my b'day, nice) and the second just last week (both in Toronto). The first time it was just him and his guitar (no beard, but a longer fringe) and his voice was just so raw and lovely. Smallish turnout of mostly chicks, with some really embarrassing behaviour from a few of them...The second time, with the band, which was a different feel but a nice balance, was fantastic as well. They even did a little Rush riff for us, and got into some serious noodling. There was a larger turnout with a more balanced audience of guys to gals.

If you can get your hands on Bobby's previous small release, Dirty Pond Songs, do so. It's an amazing pared-down album with some different stuff on it as well as a few from A Winter's Tale. I got it signed (with birthday greetings even, he was so sweet, if reeling a bit from my husband's review of his singing - d'oh), though that's not how I usually roll.

I've seen Bobby twice now; the first time was in early September a couple of years ago (on my b'day, nice) and the second just last week (both in Toronto). The first time it was just him and his guitar (no beard, but a longer fringe) and his voice was just so raw and lovely. Smallish turnout of mostly chicks, with some really embarrassing behaviour from a few of them...The second time, with the band, which was a different feel but a nice balance, was fantastic as well. They even did a little Rush riff for us, and got into some serious noodling. There was a larger turnout with a more balanced audience of guys to gals.

If you can get your hands on Bobby's previous small release, Dirty Pond Songs, do so. It's an amazing pared-down album with some different stuff on it as well as a few from A Winter's Tale. I got it signed (with birthday greetings even, he was so sweet, if reeling a bit from my husband's review of his singing - d'oh), though that's not how I usually roll.

so cool! i saw him on the 24th of feb. in vermont . i was so thrilled he came here . i love his music , and may have a small crush , but dont tell my husband who came to the show with me , although he may have noticed my drooling at the stage heeheehee

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